Fire-extinguishing sprinkler



A. D. CLARKE.

FIRE EXTINGUISHING SPRINKLER.

APPLICATIUN HLED NOV. 16, I920.

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

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Middlesex, England, a subject of the (ing.

PATENT oFFIC ALFRED DALE CLARKE, OF ENFIELI), ENGLAND.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING SPRINKLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

Application filed November 16, 1920. Serial N0. 424,499.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED DALE CLARKE, electrician, of Enfield, 1n the count of of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in F ire-Extinguishing Sprinklers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lire extinguishing sprinklers of that type which are provided with a member or device composed of some readily fusible substance, which, when the temperature of the room or place in which it is located reaches or exceeds a predetermined degree, becomes fused and allows water to flow from a source of supply for the purpose of extinguishing or arresting the progress of the fire.

The object of this invention is to provide simple means by which, immediately the said fusible substance becomes melted, the force or pressure of the released water will cause an alarm to be given by electrical means, thus precluding or minimizing the possibility of damageby water occurring in cases (which. frequently happen) of the sprinkler coming into operation without proper cause.

The main body of the sprinkler and the fusible member may be formed as hitherto, or of any known or suitable shape, but ac cording to this invention the sprinkler member proper is mounted on its support in a movable or resilient manner so that immediately the water is released, the pressure thereof will move or depress the sprinkler member to close an electric circuit through which an audible or visible signal or'alarm may be actuated.

he accompanying drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 being an elevation and Fig. 2 a section at right angles to Fig. 1, with certain parts removed.

The sprinkler device is shown as mounted in a T union a forming part of the supply pipe 0: and is of a substantially known form comprising a frame 6 supporting the memher 6 which consists of a metallic alloy and is fusible at a predetermined temperature such as 155 degrees Fahrenheit. This member carries a hemispherical element 6 forming a valve normally seated in a diaphragm or gasket 5 to shut off the flow of water through the device and at the base of the frame is rotatably mounted the sprinkler member, shown as comprising a tubular part c surmounted by outwardly inclined fingers or projections c of any desired shape to properly distribute the water.

So far the device is substantially known and the novel features of the present invention will now be disclosed.

Mounted on the base of the sprinkler member within the tubular part c is a block d of insulating material, such as vulcanite', carrying exteriorly a terminal al for connection of a conductor a, this block d being held in place by a screw 6 screwed into the base of the frame 6, but the block is capable of rotation about the screw with said part 0 The block is provided interiorly with a contact or contacts f (two such being shown) sultably formed of pointed steel wire to avoid failure of the contact due to oxidation, condensation or other cause, and there is interposed between the sprinkler member and the block a spring f shown as coiled about the screw 6 the tension of which spring can be such or so adjusted as to permit ready contact between the points 7 and the interior of the sprinkler part 0 under the particular degree of water pressure being dealt with.

It will thus be seen that on the water being released by the melting of the fusible member 7) it will act on the sprinkler member 0 and move it downward against the action of the spring 7 to make contact and close the circuit, one conductor of which may with advantage be constituted by the metal parts of the whole sprinkler device andthe supply pipe or conduit a and the other by the wire or lead 0 of usual form, these conductors being shown as connected to a hell 9 and battery g so that the bell will be rung and an alarm given.

I do not limit myself to the above arrangement or the construction of sprinkler device to which my invention is applied so long as the principle above mentioned is observed, that is to say, that the pressure of the water on its release acts on some device by which a circuit may be closed to give'an alarm or signal.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1- l. A sprinkler device comprising a body member, a fusible substance supported thereby, and a sprinkler element of the type hereinbefore specified mounted to be movable relatively to the body member whereby on contact of the water with said sprinkler element, it is moved to close an electric circuit to produce an alarm.

2. A sprinkler device comprising a body member, a fusible substance supported thereby, a sprinkler element of the type hereinefore' specified mounted to be movable relatively t0 the body member whereby, on contact of the water with said sprinkler element, it is moved to close an electric circuit to produce an alarm, and a contact member on which the sprinkler member is resiliently mounted to enable the circuit to be closed.

3. A sprinkler device comprising a body member, a fusible substance supported tl1ereby, a sprinkler element of the type hereinbefore specified mounted to be movable relatively to the body member whereby, on contact of the water with said sprinkler element, it is moved to close an electric circuit to produce an alarm, and a contact member on which the sprinkler member is resiliently mounted to enable the circuit to be closed, said'contact member being provided with contacts of pointed metallic wire. In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED DAL l) ("Li-LR K It. Witnesses P. O. KNowLEs, Juli, M. E. MARTIN. 

